Sony Drops PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Studio

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is being handed over to Sony's internal studios.

Sony has ended its relationship with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale developer, SuperBot Entertainment, and handed over responsibility for the title and its DLC to Santa Monica Studio. This news comes just days after the California-based developer laid off a significant number of staff members.

Both SuperBot and Sony insist the split is amicable, but neither have given a reason for the decision to part ways, naturally leading to speculation that Sony isn't pleased with the performance of All-Stars.

"Sony Computer Entertainment can confirm that the working agreement with developer SuperBot Entertainment has amicably ended," a Sony representative told Kotaku. "We have had a positive working relationship with this talented studio, and wish them the best of success in their next endeavor. PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale and the title's forthcoming DLC releases will continue to be fully supported by Santa Monica Studio."

So what's happening to SuperBot? Well, the developer has no plans to shut down, but without that delicious Sony money it seems unlikely the studio can maintain its current staff.

"We don't have a reduction plan as of yet, however it is unlikely we can continue with our current work force for an extended period of time," SuperBot's director of operations, David Yang, told Kotaku. "We are still working things out and hope to continue on with as many of us as possible."

SuperBot was founded in 2008 by former Sony Santa Monica executive producer, Sharron Studstill. All-Stars is the studio's only game to date, hopefully it won't be the last.